Before and After
 

This weather is driving me mad, have not been able to get out for 3 or 4 days now so I have resorted to re-preprocessing some of my old shots.
Attached is the before and after shot. Also of interest is the difference in file sizes, both the same dimensions and the processed shot is more heavily compressed - 155kb against 241kb

Wow! Roy that is beautiful I know they are not to evryones taste but I like them. What program do you use to achieve the effect?

Hi Christine, I use Photomatix to create a pseudo HDR from a single RAW. After tonemapping I transfer to CS2 for the final touches (inc sharpening).

Certainly adds something to what would otherwise be a very uninspiring shot.

Thanks Roy I am going to check the program out, it would certainly liven up some of my more mundane images.

Looks good Roy - load more impact. If I could make one suggestion and that would be to do something to tone down the whiteness of the clouds, particularly the one on the top left third - it's sooo white that it draws the eye. Otherwise a great rendition

Take your point Clive - I can see the one you mean, quick touch with the burn tool should fix that. Thanks for the comment.

Roy, I downloaded the basic free program and it works extremely well. There is still some processing to be done in CS but the combination of of two images is better than I have had from other programs.

Yep , its a nice prog Christine. I do not even bother with making two exposures from the same RAW. I just open a single RAW and it automatically creates a pseudo HDR - from there I go into Tonemapping and as you say, finish it off in CS2.
To get the real HDR's you need to take 3 or more exposures of the same scene and then go into HDR > Generate.
What I sometimes do is to set AEB on the camera to -2 0 and +2 put the camera into 6.5 fps and rattle off the 3 shots. Providing the light is good enough you can get away without using a tripod.

Here is a before and after that I have had a go at. I had to add in a graduated sky as the original was completly flat.

Nice post-processing Roy and Christine - great dramatic effect!